Browse Articles

15 questions to improve your supporter website

January 2019

By: Mike Brady

Do you want to raise more funds, recruit more volunteers, and mobilize prayer? Investing time in improving your supporter website can help.

First, be sure to have a separate supporter website in addition to your client website. Why? They serve two different audiences. Your client website is for those who are looking for health services. They need to know the services you provide and how to contact you. The supporter website is for those who want to donate, get involved and know what to pray about. They want to know about your statement of faith, your board, your staff, and upcoming events. Totally different information compared to what clients are looking for.

If pro-abortionists chide you for being “dishonest,” ignore them, and remember that they refuse to show the woman the ultrasound screen on which her baby is breathing his last amniotic fluid.

ASK YOURSELF 15 QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUPPORTER SITE:

1. Is it warm and inviting? Similar to the client website, when a supporter clicks on the page, it should include nice pictures and great formatting.

2. Does it include statistics and stories? People want to know if you’ve been effective in the community. Some like numbers – and everybody loves a story.

3. Does it get people signed up for your newsletters and communications? A center should always be collecting emails, addresses and phone numbers from supporters. Some centers have a pop-up for this on their site.

4. Does it recruit volunteers? You can list the types of roles that different volunteers serve.

5. Does it promote events? Your banquet, walk, women’s lunch and other events can be described on the website. People can register for these events by clicking the link provided.

7. Can people donate online? Let the donor manage this. Be sure to allow them to click on recurring donor, if they choose. Also, provide a phone number in case they get stuck in the inputting process, or want to discuss a large donation.

8. Are key needs or projects listed? People are driven by specific opportunities to give or get involved.

9. Does it contain a list of prayer requests? Prayer warriors will pray through these requests when they are provided. God will answer.

10. Does the site enable people to read the recent newsletters? A new visitor is wanting to get a better understanding of what’s happened in the past.

11. Does it show pictures and biographies of the staff and board? The website visit becomes personal when you see the faces behind the names. People make connections with others when they read their backgrounds.

12. Does it have a video of the executive director? Do you watch YouTube? People like videos. A brief video of the person who is the “face of the organization” really warms up the website and forms a bond.

13. Does it provide a video tour of the center? Most donors will never tour the center. But you know the impact of the in-person tours that you give. So why not give a tour that gets seen every day with a short video?

14. Is it totally separate from the client website? I don’t recommend even putting a “donate” button on the client website. A client who wrongly perceives that you are going to pressure her because she goes on the supporter website and learns that you are very pro-life, can result in a missed opportunity.

We are in a culture war, and war requires wisdom. Jesus often told people to not talk about what he was doing because if would inhibit his ministry with others. We can follow his example.To keep it separate, also use a different URL and on the source page, don’t list any key words and don’t provide a description. For example, one center I know of is called “Choices,” and their client website is ChoicesCenter.org. But their supporter site is called SaveABaby.net.

15. Is the supporter website promoted well? Clearly list the website in your newsletters. Provide it on the email signature of staff, include it flyers for fundraising events, and in the program at the banquet.

Part of helping your center thrive, in addition to your making personal contact with supporters, is the backup that your supporter website will provide 24/7.

Mike Brady is a former executive director of a pro-life women’s health center, and is now the Director of Pregnancy Clinic Consulting. He can be reached through his website: ReachMoreClients.org.